Barnardo’s Project: Smaller VCSE organisations and social prescribing

Have you heard of social prescribing? This is where a link worker or ‘social prescriber’ – often connected to a GP surgery – supports people with social problems like loneliness and getting benefits to access help in the community, such as that offered by local voluntary sector organisations. It may be called something else in your area, such as a community navigating.

Barnardo’s, the children and young people’s charity, is working with other smaller voluntary sector organisations to find out what works for them around social prescribing – whether that is providing services in the community or signposting their service users to other areas of support.

As part of the project, Barnardo’s would like to hear from any smaller voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations, operating within a local or community area, and that are involved with social prescribing, about how it works for them. For example:

• Do you have a good relationship with the GP surgery or council that hosts the social prescribing service?
• What could make the service better?

Organisations do not necessarily need to work with children and families but it is helpful if they do.

Barnardo’s would also like to know if your organisation would like to be involved with social prescribing, but there are barriers preventing you from doing so.

If you are able to help with any information, please contact [email protected].